Revolver cylinders for multiple calibers



March 16, 1965 J. T. IVY

REVOLVER CYLINDERS FOR MULTIPLE CALIBERS Filed March 4, 1965 JESSIE T. IVY

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,173,221 REVOLVER CYLINDERS FOR MULTIPLE CALIBERS Jessie T. Ivy, 523 Henderson St. S., Seattle, Wash. Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,764 2 Claims. (CI. 42-65) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 105,228, filed April '24, 1961, now Patent No. 3,093,922.

This invention relates to improvements in revolvers. More particularly, it relates to a revolver having a cylinder that is chambered to accommodate cartridges of two different calibers and where-in a single hammer and trigger mechanism serves for the selective firing of cartridges of either calibers or of cartridges of both calibers together.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a revolver embodying improvements of the above stated character wherein the cylinder is characterized by its being formed with two concentric rows of bores for seating the cartridges of different caliber, respectively, therein; in the provision of separate firing pins for firing the cartridges of different caliber and in the provision of a hammer and trigger mechanism that is common to both firing pins, and wherein the hammer mounts a pin striking head that is selectively adjustable to positions for striking one or the other firing pin, or to a position for simultaneously striking both pins.

Further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of parts associated with cylinder, hammer and trigger; in their combination and relationship, and in their mode of operation, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of a revolver embodying the improvements of this invention therein.

FIG. 2 is a rear end view of the present two caliber cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the cylinder taken on line 44 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 55 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmental perspective view showing the firing pin locations of the revolver.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In FIG. 1, I have shown only those portions of a revolver in which the novel features of this invention are embodied. The frame portion 10 is shown as having the present cylinder 11 mounted therein for axial rotation and indexing. This may be effected in the usual manner by conventional mechanism or it may be mounted and actuated by mechanisms as shown and described in my US. Patent No. 3,030,723, which illustrates a cylinder indexing mechanism that is controlled by trigger pull.

It is well shown in FIG. 2 that the cylinder 11 is formed with two concentric, circular rows of different diameters of chambers designed to receive, respectively, cartridges of two different calibers, the inner row is seen to comprise chambers for relatively large caliber cartridges and the outer circular row, which is the row of greater diameter comprises chambers 16 designed for smaller calbier cartridges. The cylinder is mounted for indexing rotation by an axial shaft 12 and this is equipped with a shell extractor disk 13 and an indexing ratchet wheel 14 with See which the trigger action coacts for cylinder indexing with each hammer cocking operation as later explained.

When the cylinder is loaded and ready for firing, it is rotatably mounted in the frame as shown in FIG. 1. The loading of cartridges intoand their extraction from the cylinder is preceded by removing the cylinder laterally from the frame. Then the shaft 12 is pushed endwise therein to the position shown in dash lines in FIG. 4 for shell extraction.

It will also be understood by reference to FIG. 2 that the extractor disk 13 is of such diameter and is bored with holes or notches registering with the cartridge chambers 15 and 16 and is so peripherally notched as to seat therein certain peripheral rim portions of the cartridges of both calibers as applied to their respective chambers of the cylinder, as seen in FIG. 2. This disk is fixed on the cylinder mounting shaft 12 by means of a key 13K, shown in FIG. 4 which key also fixes the cylinder indexing gear wheel 14 to the shaft 12 and holds its firmly against the outer face of the extractor disk 13 when the cylinder is properly mounted in the frame.

Normally, that is, when the revolver is loaded and ready for firing, the frame 10, cylinder 11 and its mounting shaft 12 are in the relationship shown in FIG. 1, and the end trunnions of the shaft 12 are held in frame seats provided therefor. To displace the cylinder from the frame for loading or for the unloading of cartridges or cases therefrom, it is pushed laterally from its normal position. Empty or full cartridges may then readily be extracted from the cylinder chambers by holding the cylinder in the hand and actuating the shaft 12 rearwardly therein, as shown in dash lines in FIG. 4, thus to shift the extraction disk 13 from the cylinder and cause it, by reason of this movement and its peripheral holding contact with the rim flanges of the cartridge cases then in the cylinder to extract them from the cylinder. The shaft 12 is shown in FIG. 4 as having a keyway slot 18 extended therealong and the inner end of the set screw 19 threaded into the cylinder protrudes into this keyway to prevent the shaft 12 and the disk 40 from rotating in the cylinder and to act as a limiting stop for shaft movement. This extracting operation, as illustrated, shows that the disk or plate 13 has been displaced to the left. Extraction is most effectively accomplished by holding the cylinder and striking the shaft 12 on its forward end to drive it rearwardly. After extraction, the disk or plate 13 is merely pressed back into the cylinder end recess 13R, the cylinder chambers reloaded, and then the cylinder replaced in the frame as in FIG. 1.

This revolver, as in Patent 3,093,922, is equipped with two barrels which are aligned respectively with the top bore 15' and the bore 16 immediately to the right hand side thereof; these barrels being shown in dash line circles 15B and 16B in FIG. 2.

The cartridges of either caliber, as loaded in the cylinder chambers are adapted to be selectively fired in the revolver by the action of the hammer 25 which has a pin striking head block 26 that is pivotally adjustable thereon to positions for selectively striking firing pin 27 or 28 which are mounted in proper positions in the rear end or breech portion of the cylinder mounting frame 10, to accommodate the positions of cartridges of different calibers as contained in the cylinder. The hammer 25 is mounted in the frame as best shown in FIG. 1. It comprises an inner end mounting hub or tumbler portion 25A substantially of cylindrical disk-like form and at its outer end is formed with a head 25H. A pivot shaft 31 extends axially through the tumbler portion 25A and functionally mounts the hammer in the frame for its required swinging action. The portion 25A is contained in a recess 32 formed in the frame and the end portions of the pivot shaft 31 are rotatably contained in sockets provided therefor in puts of or parts applied to the opposite sides of the frame 10.

Movably mounted on the strik ng face of the hammer head 251-! as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is the firing pin striking block 26. This is shown to be pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 36 applied through its upper end portion as in FIG. 3 to permit the lower end portion of the block to be adjusted thereon to the full line position of FIG. 3, for striking against the firing pin 27 that is set in the frame in position to fire cartridges in the outer circle of chambers 16 or to be adjusted to its dash line position in that same view to strike the firing pin 28 that is set in the frame in position for firing of the cartridges of the inside circle of chambers. Also, it may be adjusted to an intermediate position for striking both pins simultaneously to fire cartridges of different calibers.

When the block 26 has been adjusted to any one of its three positions, it will be yieldingly held in that position by means of a spring pressed ball latch 40 mounted in the block and adapted to seat in corresponding recessed seats 41 formed in the front face of the hammer head 25H, as shown in FIG. 5. The revolver is equipped with separate barrels for the firing therethrough of the bullets from the cartridges of diiferent calibers as has been disclosed in the patent application previously mentioned.

The firing pins 27 and 28 are mounted in the breech end member X of the frame 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

To assure that the cylinder chambers are properly aligned with the barrels through which their cartridges are to fire, I provide evenly spaced flat surfaces 12A about the inner end portion of shaft 12. These surfaces will be engaged by a flat leaf spring mounted to press thereagainst to automatically cause the cylinder to be indexed to its proper position when placed in the frame.

Cooking of the hammer is effected by the trigger operated mechanism shown in FIG. 1 in which the trigger is seen to be pivoted in the frame at 61 and to be pivotally attached at its upper end as at 62, to a pull link 63 which link at its end has an upwardly directed hook 64 disposed to engage the ratchet teeth 65 on the tumbler 25A with each cocking pull on the trigger thus to rotate the hammer mounting shaft 31 and swing the hammer from down to cocked position at which it will be latched by the engagement of a sear 66 which may be released by a farther trigger pull that causes it to engage with a sear releasing pin 67 to allow the hammer to be forcibly driven down by pressure of a spring 68 which acts against the tumbler 25A.

The hammer cocking operation also elfects a cylinder indexing operation through a pawl 70 that is pivoted on the tumbler 25A in position to engage the gear 14 fixed on shaft 12 for a rotative indexing adjustment of the cylinder incident to each hammer cocking operation as effected by trigger pull.

Although I have illustrated chambers of different sizes, the chambers could if desired be of the same size and thereby permit the firing of additional cartridges of the same caliber. This would be advantageous for military use or police use. By this means I can provide ten cartridges in place of the six which is now common.

Another advantage of my improved construction is the easy change of cylinders. An empty cylinder may be quickly removed and a full cylinder can be inserted.

What I claim to be new is:

l. A revolver having a frame mounting a cartridge cylinder for indexing rotation therein, a hammer and a hammer cooking and cylinder indexing means including a trigger; said cylinder being formed with two circular rows of cartridge chambers, concentric of the axis of rotation of the cylinder, said hammer operable by the cocking mechanism, two firing pins, one for cartridges of each of the circular rows of chambers, said hammer having a striking head, and a firing block pivoted on the hammer head and selectively adjustable to positions for striking either pin separate or both together.

2. A revolver having a frame, a cartridge mounting cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame for indexing rotation, a hammer and a hammer cocking mechanism, said cylinder including two series of cartridge containing chambers coaxially positioned in circular formation, one series of chambers being in a circle of greater diameter than the other and designed to receive cartridges of smallor caliber than the other series, the axes of the chambers of smaller caliber being positioned medially of and radially outward of the axes of the chambers of larger caliber and an indexing mechanism operable by the trigger to rotate the cylinder incident to cocking of the hammer; two firing pins, one for each series of chambers; said hammer having a head portion at its outer end, a pin striking block pivotally mounted thereon from a position to strike both pins simultaneously or to opposite sides for striking either pin individually.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,404 5/62 Vaughan 4265 X 191,178 5/77 Richardson 4259 221,146 11/79 Barthel 4267 X 235,240 12/80 Hood 4265 X 336,894 3/ 86 Cilley 4267 X 584,631 6/97 Fosbery 42--59 X 626,310 6/99 Stapf 4269 627,966 7/99 Behr 42----65 X 943,819 12/09 Du Bose 4265 X 982,152 1/11 Marble 4242 990,669 4/ 11 Rodehaver 4259 1,042,145 10/12 Rodehaver 4265 X 1,972,763 9/34 Dutton 424 2,259,397 10/41 Smith 4242 2,927,390 3/60 Lewis 4265 2,958,151 11/60 Sefried 4267 3,030,723 4/62 Ivy 4265 3,045,556 7/62 Westmoreland 4265 X 3,051,057 8/62 Ivy 4265 X 3,055,270 9/62 Miller 4265 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A REVOLVER HAVING A FRAME MOUNTING A CARTRIDGE CYLINDER FOR INDEXING ROTATION THEREIN, A HAMMER AND A HAMMER COCKING AND CYLINDER INDEXING MEANS INCLUDING A TRIGGER; SAID CYLINDER BEING FORMED WITH TWO CIRCULAR ROWS OF CARTRIDGE CHAMBERS, CONCENTRIC OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE CYLINDER, SAID HAMMER OPERABLE BY THE COCKING MECHANISM, TWO FIRING PINS, ONE FOR CARTRIDGES OF EACH OF THE CIRCULAR ROWS OF CHAMBERS, SAID HAMMER HAVING A STRIKING HEAD, AND A FIRING BLOCK PIVOTED ON THE HAMMER HEAD AND SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE TO POSITIONS FOR STRIKING EITHER PIN SEPARATE OF BOTH TOGETHER. 